Neighbours in Tottenham

Tottenham at this time was particularly attractive to wealthy families with it’s clean air and water and good educational facilities. It was also within easy reach of London. Neighbours in Tottenham Green included the Quakers Luke Howard and Priscilla Wakefield, Rowland Hill in Bruce Grove and William Hobson in South Tottenham. And William Row, of Page Green, whose youngest daughter, Mary, BG Windus married.

Dissenters in particular were attracted to Tottenham as it was outside of the City of London – an important consideration as The Five Mile Act (1665) was still in place. This prevented nonconformist ministers from coming within five miles of any corporation that returned members of parliament, or any parish where they had been the minister or preached. Dissenters were Christians who withdrew from the Church of England and founded their own places of worship. They opposed state interference in religious matters, schools and communities and were persecuted and often imprisoned or fined for their dissenting views.

The Society of Friends, often referred to as Quakers, were one non-conformist group which settled in Tottenham and was actively engaged in social action and the alleviation of poverty.